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Recent lack of key hits doesn't concern Gibson

Recent lack of key hits doesn't concern Gibson

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Casilla escapes a jam 0:10

7/19/13: Santiago Casilla gets Paul Goldschmidt to ground out to work out of trouble with the bases loaded in the eighth inning

By Andrew Owens
/
MLB.com |

SAN FRANCISCO -- Paul Goldschmidt's forceout with the bases loaded in the eighth inning represented the D-backs' only opportunity with runners in scoring position in Friday's 2-0 loss. But when Arizona has had those chances in recent games, it has come up short.

During the D-backs' past eight games -- a stretch during which they're 3-5 -- the club is 8-for-46 (.174) with runners in scoring position.

"I think that's the case for anybody you look at at any time," Gibson said of the club's scuffles. "It's in and out. Beyond the Cardinals, they've done that well this year. They have a great approach and trust it."

St. Louis leads all of baseball with a .339 average with runners in scoring position. The next best, Detroit, is hitting .287 in those situations. The D-backs are tied for 17th with a .249 mark.

"It's unreal for a team to hit that well," Gibson said. "Earlier we were really bad.

"It's probably one of the more important stats given their pitching staff."

The D-backs, however, don't seem to have fallen on the losing end too many times this season due to a lack of key hits. In one-run games, Arizona is 21-12.

Andrew Owens is an associate reporter for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter @OwensAndrew. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.